Play as Adol, a sword-wielding adventurer who awakens with no memory of where he is, his skills as a warrior – or even his own name.

Journey across the beautifully imagined land of Celceta and meet a cast of characters brimming with personality as you unravel a gripping tale of a world in peril.

Battle fearsome monsters in real-time combat alongside a party of fellow heroes, each with their own special skills and weapons.

Memories of a past life

Ys: Memories of Celceta plunges you into the vast land of Celceta, a fantastical realm teeming with monsters to slay and secrets to uncover – not least the small matter of who you are.

You take the role of Adol Christin, a flame-haired young adventurer who arrives in the town of Casnan with no memory of his past. Aided by new pal Duren, a professional pedlar of information, you set off to explore the Great Forest that surrounds Casnan – and in doing so, begin to piece together answers to the questions that haunt you: who are you? What is your purpose in Celceta? Is your hair naturally red or did you dye it?

Ys: Memories of Celceta offers equal parts action thrills and role-playing adventure, with a story that soon blossoms into something wondrously epic. The plot is reminiscent of classic anime, with a rich cast of characters gifted in the arts of combat, magic and misdirection, and the winning mixture of swordplay and suspense ensures you’ll be hooked from the outset.

World of wonder

Ys: Memories of Celceta harks back to classic manga at every turn, with crisp, colourful visuals that bring the best of Japanese comic book culture vividly to life. Each character is joyously extreme in appearance and attributes, from the distinguished but dangerous Duren (complete with long grey hair pulled back into a warrior’s pony-tail) to boy wonder Adol, with his huge long-sword and armour that matches his cherry-hued hair.

In keeping with the game’s focus on combining real-time combat with immersive storytelling, menus and options are expertly streamlined. This makes Ys: Memories of Celceta completely accessible to newcomers and allows it to unveil its deeper details and complexities at a finely judged pace.

The sound is another strength, and the game boasts a formidable fantasy score with motifs and melodies you’ll be whistling for weeks. The music is magical – shifting and soaring to complement the action, infusing every battle with real excitement and emotion. Beware though: the demonic beasts that lurk in the Great Forest won’t pause to appreciate the aural delights surrounding them; listen too intently and you might get your head bitten off.

Simply the quest

Ys: Memories of Celceta is perfectly pitched in its blend of action thrills and subtle, story-led experiences.

The Great Forest of Celceta is brimming with villains and monsters, most of which require a firm thwack from your long-sword if they’re not to tear you limb from limb. Fortunately, as your quest progresses you’ll gather a group of fellow warriors who will add their skills and prowess to your own.

Travelling with – and fighting as – these characters makes for a brilliantly varied adventure. Each can earn points to enhance their abilities and improve their arsenal until eventually you’re in control of a near unstoppable bunch of marauders with all kinds of wild weapons and spectacular powers at their disposal. The PlayStation Vita system’s controls are also used in inspired ways to add to the fun: swiping the rear touch pad lets you alter your fighting formation in a flash, while tapping the touchscreen over an enemy will reveal their weak spots.